Why the autistic are known for being candid and direct
It is due to how their brains process information and how they communicate
The autistic are known for often being candid and direct, and are sometimes called “truth-tellers.” I am autistic and, fitting the description, am well known for being direct and candid, and for disliking obfuscation, BS, and secrecy.
These tendencies of the autistic are due to how their brains process information and how they communicate. The following are contributing factors.
Literal Thinking: Many autistic tend to interpret and use language literally, which can lead to straightforward and honest communication. They may not instinctively understand or use social nuances or implied meanings, leading them to say what they mean directly.
Reduced Social Masking: Social masking involves altering behavior to conform to social norms and to fit in with others. The autistic may engage in less social masking, resulting in more genuine and unfiltered communication.
Focus on Truth and Facts: Many autistic strongly prefer accuracy and truth, making them more likely to prioritize factual information over social niceties. This focus can lead to more honest and direct communication, as they may see little value in sugarcoating or lying.
Less Concern with Social Judgments: The autistic might be less attuned to or concerned with how others perceive them, leading to a more straightforward communication style. They might not prioritize social conventions that typically discourage directness or blunt honesty.
Difficulty with Social Cues: Reading and responding to social cues can be challenging for many autistic, so they might not pick up on subtle hints that someone wants a more indirect response. Instead, they might respond more directly or honestly because that’s how they understand the situation.
While these traits can be strengths and are often admired, they can also lead to misunderstandings and conflicts in social interactions where people expect more indirect or socially nuanced communication.
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I am skeptical of the "truth tellers" label. I understand the direct communication and non-nuanced used of language, but that would not make an autistic person more capable of discerning the "truth" (whatever that might mean). I am going to assume (absent some reason to believe otherwise) that autistic people are no more capable of discerning fact from fiction than the non-autistic population. So, unless there are studies to the contrary, I think it would be more appropriate to say that people with a high degree of autism are "belief tellers" or "opinion tellers" rather than "truth tellers." They might express their beliefs more directly and in an unfiltered way without high regard for the consequences of their verbal behavior, but that is not an indication of the rightness of their opinions.
I don’t know you well, David, but from what I do know of you, I’d say that you’ve mastered the art of being direct without being offensive. Our world needs more of that.